The attackers, believed to be loyalists of some disqualified aspirants, reportedly forced a temporary suspension of activities at the APC secretariat in Akure, the state capital.

As tension rose, the Ondo APC Chairman, Kolawole Babatunde, party executives, electoral officials, delegates, and supporters were said to have fled the venue through the back exit to avoid possible violence.

Security personnel also evacuated members of the seven-man National Assembly Primary Election Committee, headed by Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi, from the secretariat during the chaos.

Eyewitnesses said the suspected thugs stormed the venue while results were being collated and demanded an immediate halt to the announcement process.

According to a source, a disqualified aspirant was allegedly behind the disruption after reportedly mobilising the hoodlums to the secretariat.

“It was a disqualified aspirant who allegedly mobilised the thugs to the venue, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense. People began leaving because nobody wanted the situation to escalate into violence,” the source revealed.

Another eyewitness disclosed that the disruption occurred just as officials were preparing to announce results for one of the federal constituencies.

“They were about to announce the result for one of the federal constituencies when someone on the phone instructed that the process should be stopped,” the eyewitness said.

“Initially, many believed the order came from the governor, but it was later alleged that it originated from another powerful figure within the state government.”

The witness further alleged that youths from various wards had been mobilised to the venue, where they shouted threats and vowed to disrupt the entire process, creating panic and an unsafe atmosphere.

As of the time of the incident, the APC leadership in Ondo State had not officially commented, although the chairman of the election committee eventually released the final results in the early hours of Monday.